Rating: 
Summary: Depends on where you're at . . . .
Review: I'm not finished with this book because it is NOT the type of book, for me, that you can simply read and ingest in a few sittings. For spiritual growth and greater understanding of life, I love this book. It has an underlying truth and a mystical type of quality that will provide you with a concrete separation of the physical and spiritual (which ultimately are the same). Seeing it as such, I am not inclined to believe that the course is trying to tell me to ignore my perception of reality. In contrast, it asks us to recognize it. As long as the course is used as a tool to living and not as a panacea for the myriad of physical and emotional traumas that we all experience, this book is more than worthwhile. To view the book as "the answer" won't work. It's the experience of life that calls upon the perception of our realities that carry with them illusions. I see this book very much as an experiential tool, not a psychological help book in the thinking sense. That is why I give this 4 stars. For the person looking for a cerebral perspective on life, this probably won't be for you. For the person who is trying to find answers to the many pains and whoas in life, this may be for you if you can understand that the mystical quality of the spiritual enhances the physical life. To see the spiritual as separate from the physical is an illusion in and of itself. That is why I believe that some of the reviewers did not find this book helpful. It's really about no thought, or viewing thought as a part of the many tools humans have, but thought in and of itself is not enough. Like or not, in my opinion, this is the direction of our evolution.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't believe someone would actually burn this book...
Review: ...as if it was a part of the Salem Witch trials. To do so is not only a sign of paranoia ,,,, its pure ignorance.
Rating:
Summary: Just a Comment
Review: I have not read this book but I was looking at some reviews and wanted to comment. (The five stars are for the benefit of the doubt) I saw one review where the fellow rated very low based on some family members experiences. He made some comments about the interpretation of the book, second hand mind you, but not ever reading it for himself. He called himself a "Christian", and put down the book by stating it was "New Age Drivel" etc. My only comment about this is concerning somebody who has not read a book and is willing to post a review about it. This is probably more disrespectful and narrow-minded than the accusations toward the book may be. My experience has been that Christianity is about "Loving one another". Isn't that what Jesus commanded? The funny thing is that most professing Christians disobey that commandment daily by damning everybody to hell that doesn't agree with their theology. I am a believer in Jesus Christ myself but it is Christians like this guy who makes the gospel a very unattractive thing for people. I believe that every man, woman and child has been redeemed by Jesus Christ whether they believe it or not. How can the belief in something make it true? If I believe that gravity doesn't exist and I jump off this building, well, you figure out the rest. Doing "ANYTHING", whether it is believing or otherwise promotes self-righteousness and if one is blind to see that, that is a sure sign they suffer from self-righteousness. The bible says it is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Freedom defined is,"Exemption for moral or mortal liability." Evangelical Christianity and the fundamentalists, according to the gospel of Jesus Christ and this short treatise, are heretics. SO, read the book before you make comments about it. As you can see, my comments are not about this book so I don't qualify for that.
Rating: 
Summary: 0 stars if i could.........
Review: If you've ever wanted to read "cunning visions of love" or "attitudinal beliefs" by jim cunningham from the movie "donnie darko" look no further!the new age b***s*** is available in "a course in miracles".I never actually read this book,but my mother and sister got about half way through it and their discussions started to make less and less sense to me they started talking about the "ego" (it made me laugh on the mock infomercial on "donnie darko" when the one "fear survivor" said she saw her "ego reflection" when she looked "through the mirror")and i can't remember what happened to God in the discussions but one of the most frightening things to me as a christian was when they were explaining to me that Jesus was a good "teacher" and besides that was excactly the same as us,that right there is one of the most obvious sign thta this book is totally new-age drivel and nothing a christian should have anything to do with,stay away!it's false.even in the opening pages it claims that Jesus is A way to God,um as a christian we know he is THE way.anyways,sooner or later God got through to mom and my siste rthat this is NOT of Him so we burned the books,my gosh,those did not want to burn!it took a loooooong time for them to give in to the flames,but they eventually did.smelled like sulfer...........
Rating: 
Summary: Not listed
Review: I tried to read this book but realised that women did not enter into the Sonship, the Brotherhood, the He, His, Father or Son categories. I found this very disturbing especially from a female writer. After changing all of it into neutral or both female and male contect, I slowly started with this text. It is very repetitive and has a feel of lulling you into a meditative state. I read many of the reviews as I had such mixed feelings. Anyone who claims that they have the answer (that is, she is very wrong or completely right) is either God or mistaken. That aside I believe it adds a dimension to what we should strive for if we are on the spiritual path and ANY course that aims at a more peaceful world can't be entirely on the wrong track. I do recommend that the publishers reprint this time with a less male orientated version as I do not believe that God would exclude 55% of all people in the Childship. As to whether she is on the right track, that is for each person (female or male) to decide for themselves. If it gives hope and peace then it is right for you.
Rating:
Summary: To be or not to be inspired
Review: If you look at the review, mostly it's either a 5 stars or a 1 star. Either to be inspired or not to be inspired. Either you love this book or hate (or perhaps fear?) this book. Nothing seems to be in between.
Rating:
Summary: ....nothing to be afraid of!
Review: I have just read through some of the "1 star" reviews of this book. It is amazing what a violent reaction some readers have had. Why are they so afraid to read about other ways of thinking and experiencing life? For me, one of the most profoundly life altering ideas from this book is that fear is not real. And, nothing real can be threatened. I have been filled with anxiety most of my life, and these ideas have been freeing and calming. You REALLY do not need to feel afraid. You can choose to see life, people, and situations in a positive, uplifting way. It REALLY is about perception. This move toward peace in my life is worth at least 5 stars! The "Course" does not claim to be all things to all people. It clearly states that it is not necessary for anyone to read it in order to be "saved" or enlightened or good or right. It simply presents, in a rather unique style, a way to think about the nature of life and spirituality. The writing style is bulky, because it presents each point using several different literary styles - didactic, metaphorical, allegorical - so that whatever your learning style, you will be able to ingest the ideas. If you are firmly anchored in one religion or are a fundamentalist of any kind, you probably will not see value in this book. However, as a young adult, traditional Christianity disenchanted me. It did and still does seem limiting - even in my middle years. I cannot accept that there is only one "right" life path - or that you must believe any particular theology. God must be more encompassing and more loving than that. The "Course" has given me a sense of peace about our reason for being. For me, it has never been about making sure everyone "gets religion." I believe that it is all about love and peace, and the "Course" helped me to give form to my beliefs. I am not a dramatic person by any means. However, I will tell anyone that "A Course In Miracles" has been life altering. It has helped me to focus on the love in my life and in the world. And there can't be anything wrong with that! I highly recommend that if you consider yourself a spiritual seeker, that you give the "Course" a try.
Rating:
Summary: A fake - but a unique and important one
Review: After reading ACIM several times over a number of years and after researching the author I've come to the conclusion that while it does undoubtedly have some insight and value and I personally have benefited from it the book's stated origins are a fraud. After decoding the bible-based language into plain English and then boiling away the superfluous prose we end up with a residue of ideas that the writer almost certainly got from other sources; a mix of Eastern thought and more modern psychological theory grafted onto a Christian ideology. The overly long and repetitive text is written in such soft and vague language that it becomes a blank canvas that allows the reader to paint whatever he wishes on it, encouraging the day-dream like quality seen in the course's more slavish followers. It has to be realized how easy it is to become hypnotized by revered texts, be they literary or philosophical, and be falsely convinced of their profundity. Instead of the hoped-for monologue of truth from them we find ourselves in a dialogue formed from one's own dreams and memory. Rather like gazing into a still pool expecting depths but finding only self reflections. There are clues sprinkled throughout the book to its true origin. It is heavily psychoanalytical in flavor which just happens to be the profession of the woman who 'channeled' it and there are other biographical pointers which I won't go into here. The work is most variable in quality and in places (the second half of the Workbook for example) is very weak and uninspired. To be frank, wouldn't a divine being produce better metaphors and imagery than the catalogue of cliches the book is stuffed with? Having said all that I still believe the book has considerable merit as psychological description and can be profitably used as a tool for spiritual exploration and refinement. After all, should it matter where it came from as long as it has value? The book does stand by itself in spite of rather than because of its Christian structure and terminology. The author herself clearly struggles within these self-imposed confines and causes wonderment at what a more honest book would have been like. It's in the parts where ideology is discarded that the book is most effective. The concept of projection, central to the course's philosophy, which I wasn't aware of before even though many earlier thinkers (such as Freud) have used it is perhaps the single most important explainer of human behavior. The sections on 'Special Relationships' and seeking within rather than in worldly changes are vivid and eloquently stated . Other themes such as 'The Holy Instant' and the defense of a artificial self are well chosen but are handled better by others such as J. Krishnamurti. Reading the reviews here it seems that people either bow down in awe to ACIM or else dismiss it in disgust. Why does it have to be one or the other? Take away the florid religious prose and cut it down to a third (less?) of its original length and what we have here is a handy if not indispensable guide to the human psyche, well worth owning and reading if you keep a careful eye on it. I'd like to give my thanks to Jacob Glass whose lectures and humor brought this to my attention.
Rating:
Summary: Be prepared!
Review: I have been a student of the Course since 1996. Be prepared to re-think your entire way of looking at the world and other people. This is definitely not an easy task but then what worth having ever is? Your reward will be a sense of profound peace and the gain of the ability to see the world in several shades of gray, rather than black and white. You will be called upon to take a good, hard look at your beliefs and judgements which at times can be very unsettling. For me, when I remember to look through the eyes of love rather than fear, I feel peace and calm.
Rating:
Summary: Change can be scary.
Review: Read the negative reviews of this book carefully. Notice the great disparity between the negative and positive reviews. Obviously, some people are finding great peace by following the suggestions this material makes. Others are obviously feeling something very different here. If you analyzed the more negative reviews closely you may notice a derogatory or even attacking nature to the comments. Why is this? We often attack what we feel threatened by, obviously some feel threatened by this material. If you read carefully you'll find comments that defy reason. In One particularly venomous review the writer claims to have read this book cover to cover several times. How many 1200 plus page books that you found ridiculous have you read completely, much less several times. The truth is these people have not read this material, they have not tried to apply what it suggests in their day-to-day relations. If they had they would be writing positive reviews. This material seeks to correct the errors that are currently causing the difficulties in our lives. It does this by pointing out the sources of the negative feelings we deal with. Many of these reviews extol the positive aspects of anger. They speak of it as though it were a virtue. They condemn the course for saying things like, anger is never necessary. Think about it, have you ever been angry and happy at the same time. The course only points out that we could choose something other than anger that would get the same results, without the negative feelings that anger inevitably brings us. For instance simply saying no. Truth is its often that simple. We simply don't realize it because we have been taught that anger somehow protects us, but at what cost? Spiking our blood pressure, frightening us and those around us, becoming a part of the negativity that we loathe. Our choices are simple in this life. We will be either part of the problem, or part of the solution. Anger, negativity, and attack seem to be the problem for many, is it logical that they are also the solution. Don't allow yourself to be swayed by a few frighten people desperately clinging to the old beliefs that have made a mess of their lives. You are seeking change; they are clinging to the old ideas. Have the old ideas served you well? Have they brought you the lasting peace that you are seeking? If your answer to the last question is no, then perhaps this book can help you. Your resistance to change will be the determining factor. For one thing is certain, if you're not willing to change nothing else in your life will either.
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